This report focuses on indicators and impacts of urban growth and decline identified in a field study that was undertaken along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour. Participants investigated a variety of the geographical issues related to change in landuse along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour how they are being resolved. Specifically the field study aimed to answer a set of research questions concerning the use being made of the foreshore; the impact of such use on the biophysical and built environment; and, the ways in which impacts are being addressed.
Just how the participants reported on the field study activity in the follow-up assessment was open to one of two basic approaches. They could:
discuss each urban processes citing examples of it's occurrence, indicators and impacts at each of the four locations studied; or,
choose to report on each location in turn describing and analysing the indicators and impacts of each urban process at each location
Report 1
There are many impacts of urban growth and decline on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore area’s biophysical and built environments. Our field study revealed that many urban processes can be observed along the foreshore area at four main sites; Pyrmont Bridge, Millers Point,Walsh Bay and Circular Quay. The four processes I will discuss is Urban Consolidation, Gentrification, Urban decline and Urban Renewal.
Urban Consolidation is evident along the Sydney harbour foreshore areas shown in figure two. High density housing is present in Darling Harbour which shows consolidation is evident. Also in Walsh Bay, the wharfs that were previously used as docks have been made into apartments for high income communities. Issues that arise from Consolidation throughout the Sydney Harbour Foreshore area include noise pollution from increased need for transport due to higher population density. This can be overcome by the construction of Noise barriers and gardens for a more aesthetically pleasing sound barrier. Also increased run off from housing and streets call for a need for more maintenance to keep stakeholder appeal to the area and to keep tourists continually being attracted to the area. The stakeholders of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore that is affected by Consolidation are; the tourism industry; retailers who gain consumers due to a higher population; and the residents of the area who is exposed to noise pollution from bars on the water, traffic from the highway and streets and noise from neighbours. Data on wind speed was collected to prove that consolidation was present. This data revealed that compared to Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour has a high wind speed at four to six knots which is proof of wind tunnelling through high-rise apartments and buildings. A strategy to improve this is to apply a building height restriction to high rises.
Gentrification is a form of renewal where people of high income class move into an area of a low income community to renovate the said area. This is especially evident in Walsh Bay as the area provides for a high income community and uses sympathetic infill of wooden planks, brick walls and the preservation of the wharfs heritage. Issues that arise from this is Social exclusion, increased water pollution and the lack of privacy to residents as their apartments are able to be seen from the main walkway. Social exclusion is where a status of people block off an area to those of lower than themselves as these people are not able to afford to live there. This can be overcome by implementing restrictions onto how much land may be blocked off. Water pollution, as shown through tests done on the area, show that the quality of water in Walsh Bay compared to Darling Harbour is not in a better state, as one would think, as the turbidity of the water was less than 30 NTU whereas Darling Harbour had no turbidity. This may be caused by the fact that Walsh bay is an enclosed area that accommodates a high density population, giving off more waste into the water. This may be managed through maintenance of stormwater drains and regulations on bilge water from resident’s boats.
Urban Decline is the process of an area decaying due to lack of high income earners. This can be observed in Figure Six at Millers Point, a building called the “palisade hotel” is in a state of decline as the area has been abandoned. This is because the Millers Point area was originally used as a place for low income earners to reside in on a ninety-nine year basis and therefore no room for improvement can be made. Issues that arise from this process are an increased crime rate and a loss of tourism resulting in no business for retailers. This can be overcome by assigning more authorities to the area and a cleanup strategy to up heal consumer interest.
Urban Renewal is a process similar to gentrification where an area is improved for the sake of retail, residential and business. This is evident in darling harbour which is an area that used to be an industrial site with high pollution rate from factories and in a constant state of decline. The area shows renewal due to increased air and water quality and the presence of retailers attract developers to the area. The Barrangaroo area is a site in a state of renewal as the area is being rejuvenated into that of residential and aesthetically pleasing gardens. This causes issues such as an increased traffic congestion and air pollution from construction sites. This may be overcome by regulations on carefully digging a site and more thought on green star levels.
The Sydney Harbour Foreshore area has undergone and is undergoing both Urban Growth and Decline with impacts on its Biophysical and Built environments. Impacts such as traffic congestion, air pollution, noise pollution and overshadowing can be overcome by applying thoughtful strategies in place.
There are several urban processes visible along the Sydney foreshore area, all of which have impacted on the area socially and environmentally. They have occurred over the past two centuries as a result of the changing land use of the area and this has caused many problems such as overshadowing, traffic congestion, high density housing and various forms of pollution, all of which were observed during our field study excursion (In this report I will discuss the urban processes found in the field study area, which includes Darling Harbour/Pyrmont, Millers Point, Walsh Bay and Circular Quay the impacts and issues occurring because of these processes and stakeholders involved in each area.
The methods of investigation we used to gather information were from a range of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources included field sketches, direct observation, as well as various tests conducted at Walsh Bay and outside the Sydney Aquarium (sound levels, wind speed, water testing and temperature). Photographs were taken throughout the day in the field study area and interviews were conducted at Circular Quay in the afternoon. Secondary sources include in-class notes and powerpoints, internet sites, maps and newspaper articles.
Over the past two centuries, areas of Darling Harbour/Pyrmont have undergone a series of urban processes and the past 30 years have turned the area into a largely residential and tourist region. When we visited the area in our field study, we observed the processes of urban renewal and consolidation. Renewal is the processes of redeveloping urban slums and other urban areas. Consolidation is when buildings are deliberately built to make use of the limited land space. are great examples of urban renewal and consolidation as they effectively demonstrate high density housing, and how the buildings make best use of the limited space. This however causes many problems such as overshadowing, obscured views and privacy issues for residents.
Report 2
What social and environmental impacts have the processes of urban growth and decline had on the Sydney foreshore area?
There are several urban processes visible along the Sydney foreshore area, all of which have impacted on the area socially and environmentally. They have occurred over the past two centuries as a result of the changing land use of the area and this has caused many problems such as overshadowing, traffic congestion, high density housing and various forms of pollution, all of which were observed during our field study excursion (Fig.1.1, Fig.1.2). In this report I will discuss the urban processes found in the field study area, which includes Darling Harbour/Pyrmont, Millers Point, Walsh Bay and Circular Quay (Fig.1.3), the impacts and issues occurring because of these processes and stakeholders involved in each area.
The methods of investigation we used to gather information were from a range of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources included field sketches, direct observation, as well as various tests conducted at Walsh Bay and outside the Sydney Aquarium (sound levels, wind speed, water testing and temperature). Photographs were taken throughout the day in the field study area and interviews were conducted at Circular Quay in the afternoon. Secondary sources include in-class notes and powerpoints, internet sites, maps and newspaper articles.
Darling Harbour/Pyrmont (Fig.1.4)
Over the past two centuries, areas of Darling Harbour/Pyrmont have undergone a series of urban processes and the past 30 years have turned the area into a largely residential and tourist region. When we visited the area in our field study, we observed the processes of urban renewal and consolidation. Renewal is the processes of redeveloping urban slums and other urban areas. Consolidation is when buildings are deliberately built to make use of the limited land space. Figure 1.5 and 1.6 are great examples of urban renewal and consolidation as they effectively demonstrate high density housing, and how the buildings make best use of the limited space. This however causes many problems such as overshadowing, obscured views and privacy issues for residents.
When it comes to the redevelopment of urban areas, there are several impacts and issues. Renewal unquestionably brings in more people and this results in an increased demand for transport and roads. Since the Western Distributor Freeway (Fig.1.7) is located in the area, noise pollution is a prominent impact. This has meant that architects have had to think about double glazing and building noise barriers to block out noise made by passing traffic (Fig.1.8)
There are several different groups in government and residents who are stakeholders when it comes to matters concerning the Sydney foreshore region. These include the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) and the City of Sydney Council, who look after the maintenance, general hygiene and waste management of the area. There are also business owners and residents as well as tourists who visit the area (Fig.1.9).
There are management strategies and policies that have been put in place to lessen the negative impact of urban renewal and consolidation. These include building height restrictions to prevent overshadowing and providing enough garbage bins to reduce rubbish in the water. Replacing ordinary bins with ones with proper cigarette disposal sections was an effective policy. This was found to be true. When we conducted our water tests in this area, the nitrate, phosphate and pH levels were extremely good with results of 1ppm, 1ppm and 7 respectively (Fig.2.1).
Although current policies are effective, I think there are still many things the area can improve upon. In the Darling Harbour area, residential housing is located on top of businesses (such as bars). These businesses often play loud music late at night and though the customers may enjoy it, the residents will beg to differ. A restriction of the time in which bars play loud music may be a welcome strategy for many residents. Urban renewal can often lead to the demolition of older buildings. I think heritage ought to be preserved. Millers Point (Fig.2.2)
In Millers Point we observed urban growth, although there were many building in a state of decline. Urban decline is the process occurring when an urban area begins to lose business, people lose jobs and move away, causing the local economy to decline with the population. The Palisade Hotel is an example of urban decay. What was once a flourishing business has now become largely unused. As less people went there, hygiene levels fell as did the popularity. Visible impacts included traffic congestion and pollution caused by construction. Issues that have arisen include the selling of public housing and the maintenance of heritage building.
Walsh Bay
At Walsh Bay we observed many urban processes one of which was gentrification. Gentrification occurs when an upper or middle class family redevelops a property, increasing its value and desirability.
The old pulley system, displayed in Figure 2.3 is an example of sympathetic infill – preservation of heritage. This area was previously used for industry and shipping and, after being redesigned, has now become a largely residential area, also used for business and the arts precinct development.
Issues that have arisen from this include restriction of public access and an increase in population density, resulting in more traffic. This will result in the need for a better waste management strategy. Stakeholders in this area include the SHFA, residents and the National Trust. The issue of increased traffic is being managed with more parking underground.
In conclusion, due to the processes of urban growth and decline, there are many social and environmental issues which have impacted on the Sydney Harbour region. These include overshadowing, traffic congestion and various forms of pollution. I have seen that height restriction policies can limit overshadowing, traffic can be avoided by using other means of transport and pollution can be decreased by simply adding more bins. If these management strategies are followed correctly, we will be on our way to a more efficient, clean environment.
Reporting on the Urban Field Study
This report focuses on indicators and impacts of urban growth and decline identified in a field study that was undertaken along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour. Participants investigated a variety of the geographical issues related to change in landuse along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour how they are being resolved. Specifically the field study aimed to answer a set of research questions concerning the use being made of the foreshore; the impact of such use on the biophysical and built environment; and, the ways in which impacts are being addressed.With these questions as a focus participants gathered data at four separate locations: Pyrmont Bridge and King St Wharf; Millers Point; Walsh Bay; and Circular Quay West.
Not all of the main urban processes of urban renewal, urban consolidation, urban decline and gentrification were observable at each of the chosen locations but all of these processes were observable in the field study area.
Just how the participants reported on the field study activity in the follow-up assessment was open to one of two basic approaches. They could:
Report 1
There are many impacts of urban growth and decline on the Sydney Harbour Foreshore area’s biophysical and built environments. Our field study revealed that many urban processes can be observed along the foreshore area at four main sites; Pyrmont Bridge, Millers Point, Walsh Bay and Circular Quay. The four processes I will discuss is Urban Consolidation, Gentrification, Urban decline and Urban Renewal.Urban Consolidation is evident along the Sydney harbour foreshore areas shown in figure two. High density housing is present in Darling Harbour which shows consolidation is evident. Also in Walsh Bay, the wharfs that were previously used as docks have been made into apartments for high income communities. Issues that arise from Consolidation throughout the Sydney Harbour Foreshore area include noise pollution from increased need for transport due to higher population density. This can be overcome by the construction of Noise barriers and gardens for a more aesthetically pleasing sound barrier. Also increased run off from housing and streets call for a need for more maintenance to keep stakeholder appeal to the area and to keep tourists continually being attracted to the area. The stakeholders of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore that is affected by Consolidation are; the tourism industry; retailers who gain consumers due to a higher population; and the residents of the area who is exposed to noise pollution from bars on the water, traffic from the highway and streets and noise from neighbours. Data on wind speed was collected to prove that consolidation was present. This data revealed that compared to Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour has a high wind speed at four to six knots which is proof of wind tunnelling through high-rise apartments and buildings. A strategy to improve this is to apply a building height restriction to high rises.
Gentrification is a form of renewal where people of high income class move into an area of a low income community to renovate the said area. This is especially evident in Walsh Bay as the area provides for a high income community and uses sympathetic infill of wooden planks, brick walls and the preservation of the wharfs heritage. Issues that arise from this is Social exclusion, increased water pollution and the lack of privacy to residents as their apartments are able to be seen from the main walkway. Social exclusion is where a status of people block off an area to those of lower than themselves as these people are not able to afford to live there. This can be overcome by implementing restrictions onto how much land may be blocked off. Water pollution, as shown through tests done on the area, show that the quality of water in Walsh Bay compared to Darling Harbour is not in a better state, as one would think, as the turbidity of the water was less than 30 NTU whereas Darling Harbour had no turbidity. This may be caused by the fact that Walsh bay is an enclosed area that accommodates a high density population, giving off more waste into the water. This may be managed through maintenance of stormwater drains and regulations on bilge water from resident’s boats.
Urban Decline is the process of an area decaying due to lack of high income earners. This can be observed in Figure Six at Millers Point, a building called the “palisade hotel” is in a state of decline as the area has been abandoned. This is because the Millers Point area was originally used as a place for low income earners to reside in on a ninety-nine year basis and therefore no room for improvement can be made. Issues that arise from this process are an increased crime rate and a loss of tourism resulting in no business for retailers. This can be overcome by assigning more authorities to the area and a cleanup strategy to up heal consumer interest.
Urban Renewal is a process similar to gentrification where an area is improved for the sake of retail, residential and business. This is evident in darling harbour which is an area that used to be an industrial site with high pollution rate from factories and in a constant state of decline. The area shows renewal due to increased air and water quality and the presence of retailers attract developers to the area. The Barrangaroo area is a site in a state of renewal as the area is being rejuvenated into that of residential and aesthetically pleasing gardens. This causes issues such as an increased traffic congestion and air pollution from construction sites. This may be overcome by regulations on carefully digging a site and more thought on green star levels.
The Sydney Harbour Foreshore area has undergone and is undergoing both Urban Growth and Decline with impacts on its Biophysical and Built environments. Impacts such as traffic congestion, air pollution, noise pollution and overshadowing can be overcome by applying thoughtful strategies in place.
There are several urban processes visible along the Sydney foreshore area, all of which have impacted on the area socially and environmentally. They have occurred over the past two centuries as a result of the changing land use of the area and this has caused many problems such as overshadowing, traffic congestion, high density housing and various forms of pollution, all of which were observed during our field study excursion (In this report I will discuss the urban processes found in the field study area, which includes Darling Harbour/Pyrmont, Millers Point, Walsh Bay and Circular Quay the impacts and issues occurring because of these processes and stakeholders involved in each area.
The methods of investigation we used to gather information were from a range of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources included field sketches, direct observation, as well as various tests conducted at Walsh Bay and outside the Sydney Aquarium (sound levels, wind speed, water testing and temperature). Photographs were taken throughout the day in the field study area and interviews were conducted at Circular Quay in the afternoon. Secondary sources include in-class notes and powerpoints, internet sites, maps and newspaper articles.
Over the past two centuries, areas of Darling Harbour/Pyrmont have undergone a series of urban processes and the past 30 years have turned the area into a largely residential and tourist region. When we visited the area in our field study, we observed the processes of urban renewal and consolidation. Renewal is the processes of redeveloping urban slums and other urban areas. Consolidation is when buildings are deliberately built to make use of the limited land space. are great examples of urban renewal and consolidation as they effectively demonstrate high density housing, and how the buildings make best use of the limited space. This however causes many problems such as overshadowing, obscured views and privacy issues for residents.
Report 2
What social and environmental impacts have the processes of urban growth and decline had on the Sydney foreshore area?There are several urban processes visible along the Sydney foreshore area, all of which have impacted on the area socially and environmentally. They have occurred over the past two centuries as a result of the changing land use of the area and this has caused many problems such as overshadowing, traffic congestion, high density housing and various forms of pollution, all of which were observed during our field study excursion (Fig.1.1, Fig.1.2). In this report I will discuss the urban processes found in the field study area, which includes Darling Harbour/Pyrmont, Millers Point, Walsh Bay and Circular Quay (Fig.1.3), the impacts and issues occurring because of these processes and stakeholders involved in each area.
The methods of investigation we used to gather information were from a range of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources included field sketches, direct observation, as well as various tests conducted at Walsh Bay and outside the Sydney Aquarium (sound levels, wind speed, water testing and temperature). Photographs were taken throughout the day in the field study area and interviews were conducted at Circular Quay in the afternoon. Secondary sources include in-class notes and powerpoints, internet sites, maps and newspaper articles.
Darling Harbour/Pyrmont (Fig.1.4)
Over the past two centuries, areas of Darling Harbour/Pyrmont have undergone a series of urban processes and the past 30 years have turned the area into a largely residential and tourist region. When we visited the area in our field study, we observed the processes of urban renewal and consolidation. Renewal is the processes of redeveloping urban slums and other urban areas. Consolidation is when buildings are deliberately built to make use of the limited land space. Figure 1.5 and 1.6 are great examples of urban renewal and consolidation as they effectively demonstrate high density housing, and how the buildings make best use of the limited space. This however causes many problems such as overshadowing, obscured views and privacy issues for residents.
When it comes to the redevelopment of urban areas, there are several impacts and issues. Renewal unquestionably brings in more people and this results in an increased demand for transport and roads. Since the Western Distributor Freeway (Fig.1.7) is located in the area, noise pollution is a prominent impact. This has meant that architects have had to think about double glazing and building noise barriers to block out noise made by passing traffic (Fig.1.8)
There are several different groups in government and residents who are stakeholders when it comes to matters concerning the Sydney foreshore region. These include the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) and the City of Sydney Council, who look after the maintenance, general hygiene and waste management of the area. There are also business owners and residents as well as tourists who visit the area (Fig.1.9).
There are management strategies and policies that have been put in place to lessen the negative impact of urban renewal and consolidation. These include building height restrictions to prevent overshadowing and providing enough garbage bins to reduce rubbish in the water. Replacing ordinary bins with ones with proper cigarette disposal sections was an effective policy. This was found to be true. When we conducted our water tests in this area, the nitrate, phosphate and pH levels were extremely good with results of 1ppm, 1ppm and 7 respectively (Fig.2.1).
Although current policies are effective, I think there are still many things the area can improve upon. In the Darling Harbour area, residential housing is located on top of businesses (such as bars). These businesses often play loud music late at night and though the customers may enjoy it, the residents will beg to differ. A restriction of the time in which bars play loud music may be a welcome strategy for many residents. Urban renewal can often lead to the demolition of older buildings. I think heritage ought to be preserved.
Millers Point (Fig.2.2)
In Millers Point we observed urban growth, although there were many building in a state of decline. Urban decline is the process occurring when an urban area begins to lose business, people lose jobs and move away, causing the local economy to decline with the population. The Palisade Hotel is an example of urban decay. What was once a flourishing business has now become largely unused. As less people went there, hygiene levels fell as did the popularity. Visible impacts included traffic congestion and pollution caused by construction. Issues that have arisen include the selling of public housing and the maintenance of heritage building.
Walsh Bay
At Walsh Bay we observed many urban processes one of which was gentrification. Gentrification occurs when an upper or middle class family redevelops a property, increasing its value and desirability.
The old pulley system, displayed in Figure 2.3 is an example of sympathetic infill – preservation of heritage. This area was previously used for industry and shipping and, after being redesigned, has now become a largely residential area, also used for business and the arts precinct development.
Issues that have arisen from this include restriction of public access and an increase in population density, resulting in more traffic. This will result in the need for a better waste management strategy. Stakeholders in this area include the SHFA, residents and the National Trust. The issue of increased traffic is being managed with more parking underground.
In conclusion, due to the processes of urban growth and decline, there are many social and environmental issues which have impacted on the Sydney Harbour region. These include overshadowing, traffic congestion and various forms of pollution. I have seen that height restriction policies can limit overshadowing, traffic can be avoided by using other means of transport and pollution can be decreased by simply adding more bins. If these management strategies are followed correctly, we will be on our way to a more efficient, clean environment.